Those are continents, you idiots. Yes, to avoid any confusion they should have named it "North America" but they probably didn't think anybody was stupid enough to misunderstand it. Apparently they were wrong.

I wish they would stop using the term "homeland". Department of Homeland Security sounds pretty totalitarian to my ears. Why not try using something more neutral and less obviously jingoistic like "Department of National Security".

dittybopper:I wish they would stop using the term "homeland". Department of Homeland Security sounds pretty totalitarian to my ears. Why not try using something more neutral and less obviously jingoistic like "Department of National Security".

National Security includes overseas missions. Up until the Bush administration, the "homeland" was always referred to as the Interior, or just the United States. Department of Interior Security would have been in line with previous nomenclature, or Department of Internal Security, but I think the Bushies really wanted the more emotional term for propaganda purposes.

I wish we'd rename it, the way we dropped the "Global War on Terror" terminology.

Like buying a house with mold, bad plumbing, ancient electric, no A/C, unsafe water and gangs of roaches that run cocaine and make dozens of people disappear at one time, it would cost more than it's worth to fix it up.

dittybopper:I wish they would stop using the term "homeland". Department of Homeland Security sounds pretty totalitarian to my ears. Why not try using something more neutral and less obviously jingoistic like "Department of National Security".

A lot about American nationalism gives me the creeps.

Why do we have to play the national anthem or God Bless America at every sporting event? What do sports have to do with it? Why do we feel the need to make schoolchildren stand every morning and swear a loyalty oath to the state? Why are any of these things necessary or appropriate in a free society?

dittybopper:I wish they would stop using the term "homeland". Department of Homeland Security sounds pretty totalitarian to my ears. Why not try using something more neutral and less obviously jingoistic like "Department of National Security".

Yes, we should just call it "The Fatherland" and be done with it - obvious propaganda on a more subtle scale is just too soft... unless you are a patriot, and love America no matter what, of course.yay.

dittybopper:I wish they would stop using the term "homeland". Department of Homeland Security sounds pretty totalitarian to my ears. Why not try using something more neutral and less obviously jingoistic like "Department of National Security".

You have already been assimilated. United States "Law Enforcement" officers have been operating in all three countries for decades now. The War on Drugs® was all the excuse anyone needed. Now, that War has been expanded and revised to include all other factors of National Security.

For the continued safety of all Americans, the US government has had to expand the areas in which you are guaranteed safety.You will pay no new taxes for this gift if you live in the affected areas.Operation Lebensraum has been supported by both parties in secret meetings.

dittybopper:I wish they would stop using the term "homeland". Department of Homeland Security sounds pretty totalitarian to my ears. Why not try using something more neutral and less obviously jingoistic like "Department of National Security".

Because "DNS" is already taken.

Seriously though, a Department of National Security next to the DoJ (FBI), CIA, NSA (and the Prez's National Security Advisor, the other "NSA"), various SPECOPS teams (which yes, are military, not civilian)...gets a little crowded in the "protecting us" realm.

"DHS" implies less of a law enforcement/policing mandate, and more of a general "border security" one by lumping the Coast Guard, FEMA and ICE together.

// I'd like a better name as well - Department of the Interior isn't it (that refers more to flora, fauna and parks services, no?)// shiat, subsume DHS into DoJ or make some hybridized office/department with the National Security Council

Canada I can understand. Most Canadians speak a civilized language (except for Quebec) and it is not a third world armpit. But Mexico is the complete opposite and it would require a too large an investment to bring it up to a civilized standard.

mbillips:dittybopper: I wish they would stop using the term "homeland". Department of Homeland Security sounds pretty totalitarian to my ears. Why not try using something more neutral and less obviously jingoistic like "Department of National Security".

National Security includes overseas missions. Up until the Bush administration, the "homeland" was always referred to as the Interior, or just the United States. Department of Interior Security would have been in line with previous nomenclature, or Department of Internal Security, but I think the Bushies really wanted the more emotional term for propaganda purposes.

I wish we'd rename it, the way we dropped the "Global War on Terror" terminology.

hasty ambush:Canada I can understand. Most Canadians speak a civilized language (except for Quebec) and it is not a third world armpit. But Mexico is the complete opposite and it would require a too large an investment to bring it up to a civilized standard.

hasty ambush:Canada I can understand. Most Canadians speak a civilized language (except for Quebec) and it is not a third world armpit. But Mexico is the complete opposite and it would require a too large an investment to bring it up to a civilized standard.

I'm curious as to who is being protected? Us (the people) or them (the government) I don't have many enemies in the middle east or Eurasia anymore since my 20's Im going to need some information on this.

Anyone in the NSA who is obviously reading or at least documenting this have any insight?

Like buying a house with mold, bad plumbing, ancient electric, no A/C, unsafe water and gangs of roaches that run cocaine and make dozens of people disappear at one time, it would cost more than it's worth to fix it up.

Ummmm...no thanks.

Mexico has a lot of natural resources. It the corrupt government that keeps that country poor.

Why do we have to play the national anthem or God Bless America at every sporting event? What do sports have to do with it? Why do we feel the need to make schoolchildren stand every morning and swear a loyalty oath to the state? Why are any of these things necessary or appropriate in a free society?

Because if you don't do it, or want to do it, you're clearly a commie.

Like buying a house with mold, bad plumbing, ancient electric, no A/C, unsafe water and gangs of roaches that run cocaine and make dozens of people disappear at one time, it would cost more than it's worth to fix it up.

Ummmm...no thanks.

Mexico has a lot of natural resources. It the corrupt government that keeps that country poor.

And the descendants of the Spanish families that financed the expeditions and settled there.

Doc Daneeka:dittybopper: I wish they would stop using the term "homeland". Department of Homeland Security sounds pretty totalitarian to my ears. Why not try using something more neutral and less obviously jingoistic like "Department of National Security".

A lot about American nationalism gives me the creeps.

Why do we have to play the national anthem or God Bless America at every sporting event? What do sports have to do with it? Why do we feel the need to make schoolchildren stand every morning and swear a loyalty oath to the state? Why are any of these things necessary or appropriate in a free society?

Its worse in Texas believe me. Before I yanked my kid out of school there was the morning assembly that involved 1 prayer and 2 loyalty oathes. One to the usOFa and a much MUCH louder one to the state of Texas. It was creepy as hell. But dont worry we would never allow the annexation of the great country of Canada. After all, if we did that where would we have to run to when this civil war finally gets off to the ground? Mexico? Oh hell no. I would rather take my chances with the firing squads.

Doc Daneeka:dittybopper: I wish they would stop using the term "homeland". Department of Homeland Security sounds pretty totalitarian to my ears. Why not try using something more neutral and less obviously jingoistic like "Department of National Security".

A lot about American nationalism gives me the creeps.

Why do we have to play the national anthem or God Bless America at every sporting event? What do sports have to do with it? Why do we feel the need to make schoolchildren stand every morning and swear a loyalty oath to the state? Why are any of these things necessary or appropriate in a free society?

I've been asking these same questions for many years. I don't see the correlation and it makes me feel like it's some kind of indoctrination into the "American Exceptionalism" school of thought.

/I love America but I don't think we are any better than the rest of the civilized world

dittybopper:I wish they would stop using the term "homeland". Department of Homeland Security sounds pretty totalitarian to my ears. Why not try using something more neutral and less obviously jingoistic like "Department of National Security".

It tells you a lot about who was designing the institution and what they considered appropriate, yes. In 2002 US citizens were extrmely creepy in the way they either supported the DHS' name or did not question it, though. The rest of the world thought you were being very freaky and revealing your actual historical heroes. "Homeland" has as much to do with Cheney and Rove and Rumsfled's political philosophies as it does anything else. Those are the people you chose to lead you, which sort of helps to explain why the nation that brought us some of history's best free thinkers can simply accept that jingoism.

We might as well go ahead and annex them both anyway. Mexicans won't stop until they're either all here or have sent half our money home, and Canadians are...well, practically Americans anyway. To win over the 12 Mexicans who will give a damn, we'll make Spanish the second official language. Think about it: a total of 43 new stars on the flag, 200 million+ new taxpayers, superhighways all around, and we can legalize pot production in the new south so we can export it and pay off the National Debt in 10 years. It's high time we embraced our imperialistic roots again.